4. Ben
4
BEN
“ S top,” I tell her as I jump up from the swing. “Please, don’t go.”
She stops, but her back is still to me.
I don’t know what I’m doing. She’s the first woman that I’ve been attracted to in what feels like forever, and I don’t want to let her walk away. I take the few steps between us and reach for her hand, lacing our fingers together. She’s slight compared to me, but somehow our hands fit together perfectly.
“Look at me, Maggie.”
She turns around and leans her head back to meet my eyes. “I really should go.”
I pull her hand, and she falls against me, her body pressed against mine. “Stay. There’s something I should tell you.”
Her eyes widen, and her breath hitches. I try to tamp down my arousal, but being this close to her and feeling her body next to mine is proving more than I can handle. How is it that I just met her and I can’t let her walk away? “So you didn’t like it that I said you are cute?”
She shrugs, and the movement has her hair falling forward, hiding her eyes from me. I brush it off her face and put my hand on her cheek. “I only said you were cute, but the truth is, I think you’re beautiful. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She leans toward me but doesn’t say anything.
“Talk to me, Maggie. Tell me if you want me to walk away.”
She shakes her head slowly. “No, I don’t. I want…”
She stops, and I hold my breath, waiting for her to finish. She licks her lips and stares at me with wide, innocent eyes. I lean down until our mouths are mere inches from each other. “What do you want? Tell me.”
I’m holding her too tightly, but I can’t let her go. She goes to her tiptoes, and her voice is soft as a whisper. “I want you to kiss me.”
I release her hand and cup her face in my palm, searching her eyes. When I was getting ready for tonight, I was filled with dread and tried to figure out how I could get out of it. Now, all I can do is feel thankful that I’m here because I would have hated to have missed this. I lean down before I can consider all the reasons why kissing her is a bad idea.
As soon as my lips touch hers, I have my arms wrapped around her, holding her flush against me. Every one of my senses are heightened, and I know that I don’t want to let her go. I tilt my head to deepen the kiss. She whimpers as she digs her nails into my waist, pulling me closer. My hands slide down her back, and I cup her ass, lifting her up so she can feel my bulge pressed into her belly. She leans into me as her hands slide under my shirt. As soon as her bare fingers graze my waist, I pull back, breathless.
Never in my life have I wanted someone as much as I want her right now. Panting, I tell her, “Go home with me.”
Her mouth falls open. “You want me to go home with you?”
I lean my forehead against hers, still trying to get my bearings, and hiss, “Yes. Fuck yes.”
She looks unsure, and I put my hands on each side of her neck. “You don’t have to.”
“I want to, but…”
I tighten my hold on her. “But what?”
She bites her lip and looks almost embarrassed. “I’ve never gone home with someone I just met. I don’t even know you.”
I grab both her hands in mine and lace our fingers together. “We can get to know each other here tonight.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” I ask her, making sure I heard her right.
She laughs. “Yes. I need to go in now. At least until after the presentation of the checks. Then, if you still want me to?—”
I cut her off. “I’ll still want you to.”
She takes a deep breath and lets it out in a burst of air. “If you still want me to go home with you… then I’ll go.”
I pull her with me to grab my jacket that I left on the back of the chair. With our fingers still laced together, I pull her to the door that leads back into the party. I feel like I’m in a rush now, wanting to get this over with so I can get her outta here.
My trepidation from earlier is gone. I walk into the party without any hesitation. My brother is up on the stage, making his presentation. I look around the room for my sister. I have to see her while I’m here, and then as soon as Eddie is done with his speech, I’m taking Maggie out of here.
It’s like I can feel the shift in her. One minute she’s looking up at me, a smile on her face. The next minute, she’s pulling her hand from mine and looking across the room. I follow her gaze and spot my sister. She’s making her way to me as everyone around us starts to clap. The presentation is done, and I can get Maggie out of here… soon.
“You came!” Elana says as she wraps her arms around me.
My voice is gruff, half-filled with frustration. “I told you I would.”
She pulls back and slaps me on the chest. “I know, but when I couldn’t find you, I’d wondered if you’d bailed on me.”
My frown deepens. “I wouldn’t do that.” I mean, I thought about it, but I didn’t do it. I wouldn’t do it.
“Oh my gosh, have you met Maggie? Maggie, this is my big brother, Bentley. Ben, this is my best friend and partner in crime, Maggie. She’s the one that’s doing the social media for us now.” I don’t know if I could be more shocked. I turn to look at Maggie, and for the first time, I realize exactly how much younger she is than me. She’s my little sister’s age. Heck, she probably just finished school. I take a step away, putting some distance between Maggie and me. “Hi, Maggie. It’s nice to meet you.”
My voice doesn’t even sound like my own. Maggie's nose scrunches up, and she looks between my sister and me. She’s confused, that much is obvious. “Uh, hi Ben. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Oh my God, Cole! Maggie, this is your date. We’ve been searching everywhere for you. Cole, Maggie. Maggie, Cole.”
I grunt at one of the men that’s been standing behind my sister and now walks toward Maggie. He takes her hand in his and leans down to kiss her cheek. It takes everything in me to stay rooted in my spot. I can’t hear what he’s saying to her, but she keeps looking at me with those big eyes of hers.
I should have gotten her out of here while I could. She’s my little sister’s best friend, she’s an employee—hell, my employee—and she has a date. I let my guard down for all of ten minutes, and in that span of time, I found the one woman I shouldn’t want and can’t have. Fuck my life.
I clear my throat, and both Maggie and Elana look at me. “I’m going to head out.”
Elana reaches for me. “No, you just got here. We haven’t gotten to talk at all. You can’t leave yet.”
I pull my little sister into a hug. “I’m proud of you, sis. Everything was perfect.”
Her face softens as she looks up at me. “I wish I could take the credit, but it was all Maggie.”
I glance at Maggie, and she’s looking at me with hope in her eyes. What was I doing thinking that I could have anything with her? She deserves more than a one-night stand, and that’s all I have to give. There are a thousand reasons why I need to walk out of here. I force the words out, and they sound lifeless and professional. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for the company, Maggie. We appreciate your hard work.”
Her eyebrows arch in surprise, but before she gets a word out, Edward joins us. I slap him on the back. “Good job, bro. Now, it’s time for me to get out of here. Let me know if you need anything.”
I walk away without another glance at Maggie. I can’t look at her because I know if I do, I may not be able to walk away.